May 1

Yesterday was the beginning of a new stage for our movement. About 30 individuals got arrested in Washington, DC. They sat down in front of the White House and refused to leave. We left our shoes behind, the same shoes we wore the day we started walking on Jan.1st, as a symbol of thousands in our communities that disappear due to our broken immigration system.This is our official statement. May 1st is the end but the beginning of a new chapter that all of us will write together!

We leave them in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the struggle for the liberation of the unauthorized.

We leave them as a testament to the thousands of unheard stories of divided families and broken dreams collected along the journey.

We leave them as a symbolism of the human cost to this broken system of broken laws that continues to “disappear” innocent individuals in our ‘democracy’.

We leave them for all who will come after us that may dare to take even a single step in our shoes.

We leave them, because we understand that the next step of this journey must be taken by Obama, Congress, and each of you.

Juan-

At the end of this long, but incredible journey, we leave behind our shoes in the space we should have rightfully been able to take, had we the rights to truly stand up for our rights and our humanity without being selectively prosecuted.

Felipe-

To me the shoes represent my path to liberation and as they worn off and my feet got soared and blistered I saw those as symptoms of the greater fight that I still have to engaged to be able to find a place for myself, for my family and for everyone I love. And to make this country a little bit more just.

Gaby-

These shoes touched the soil of the country I have grown to love and call my home.These shoes are a reminder that it takes courage and determination to achieve and accomplish your dreams.We have accomplished our set goals; We arrived DC and now it’s time for President Obama, Congress, and us to put on our shoes and walk towards reaching our dreams.

Carlos-

I leave my shoes as a reminder to every young person losing hope…we must never live in fear.

Leave a comment:

Name

Email address

URL

Comment

If you enter anything in this field your comment will be treated as spam

Comments

Posted by: jean chapman on May 3, 2010, 10:20 a.m.

blessings be with you all...we have been following you day by day...telling everyone about you..having people hold you in thought and heart in these last days, speaking of you in solidarity in events across the country on May 1. Paz y libertad, Jean Chapman, nc

Posted by: Tim Mellen on May 3, 2010, 10:36 a.m.

Congratulations from all of us from Gypsy Farm where you touched our lives over curry and great conversation
we are proud of all of you and keep up the fight as we all should

Hello Dreamers,
Being there in DC when all of this happened...its just something I cannot describe in words. The mass of people present, fighting for one cause, was just awesome. I feel like we have such a strong and loud voice, there is no way people can't hear us. I thank you, and all of our allies, for supporting and representing the thousands of students that want to make their dreams come true. You are truly one of my main inspirations, and thanks to all the people I have met along the way, I know that together we are going to pass the DREAM Act and CIR. I know that our voices will be louder and stronger than ever. Thank You so much!! I love you guys very much! :]

Omg!!! What you guys are doing is sooo great!!!! I really admire you guys! Thank you sooo much for this! So many of us need for that law to some throught, if it does i would be forever grateful with you!
Good Luck!!!

Posted by: jo on May 12, 2010, 12:53 a.m.

the perseverance and strength of character in each of you to have not only stood up, but also to have taken the steps forward and spoken up in the ways you have, humbles and encourages me. please continue to update us on your whereabouts, what the next step will be for each of you, and what has begun and might still be unfolding for you in the days, weeks, months ahead.
this was an extraordinarily courageous feat, thank you for sharing. let's all keep up the dialogue to continue to hope and work for a fulfilling future!

Posted by: Tere on May 14, 2010, 1:04 p.m.

What an amazing act of self-sacrifice in honor of such a noble quest.
I take with me the motivation to spread the message in my community and beyond.
Thank you all.
-Tere
Southwest Detroit, MI